why do we worry so much about dyno numbers
Originally Posted by Swifster
Not all of us have late model F or Y body cars either. I'm building mine for show and go. Unfortunately, without a cage I'll see maybe one pass before the tech sticker gets pulled. And some cars just don't blend into the crowd to be able to come back under the radar. Try being anonomous in a Studebaker!
I do agree that first, and foremost, the dyno is a tuning tool. It allows you to maximize what you have and to test the results. But on a track car, the E.T. or lap time is all that matters. Total power is just part of the equation.
In my case, stuffing modern technology into a 40 year old street machine built to be driven on the street without the use of a cage or 5 point harness limits the ability to ability to let it all hang out at the strip or a Solo 1. It is essentially a toy. In these cases, the only numbers that we can hang are hat on is the dyno numbers. When I'm done with the car, and if I get my 500-550 wrhp then I have won my race.
I do agree that first, and foremost, the dyno is a tuning tool. It allows you to maximize what you have and to test the results. But on a track car, the E.T. or lap time is all that matters. Total power is just part of the equation.
In my case, stuffing modern technology into a 40 year old street machine built to be driven on the street without the use of a cage or 5 point harness limits the ability to ability to let it all hang out at the strip or a Solo 1. It is essentially a toy. In these cases, the only numbers that we can hang are hat on is the dyno numbers. When I'm done with the car, and if I get my 500-550 wrhp then I have won my race.
My RX7 doesn't need 500-550 rwhp to haul ***.I don't think I'll ever like dyno's even as a great end all tuning tool after getting my GTP set up for N2O on the dyno (worked great! 324 whp 450 rwtq on a 75 shot) and then having it falling on it's face when I hit it at the track (plug gap too wide but dyno didn't put enough load on it I guess).
Sounds like fun with the Stude though.
Im with JRP on all accounts... My car is set up for street use. It has 18s, radials, stiff suspension, lowering springs, ALL ammenities and will NEVER see a cage. I dont give a rats *** about track times. The track is all about traction, suspension setup, weather, driver and car... waaay too many variables for me. People ask about HP, vary rarely track times, also, 90% of the people out there understand (or can relate) to HP.
Like it was said earlier, different strokes for different folks.
Like it was said earlier, different strokes for different folks.
Originally Posted by Country Boy
Im with JRP on all accounts... My car is set up for street use. It has 18s, radials, stiff suspension, lowering springs, ALL ammenities and will NEVER see a cage. I dont give a rats *** about track times. The track is all about traction, suspension setup, weather, driver and car... waaay too many variables for me. People ask about HP, vary rarely track times, also, 90% of the people out there understand (or can relate) to HP.
Like it was said earlier, different strokes for different folks.
Like it was said earlier, different strokes for different folks.
i haven't even been to the track...but i need to go just to see what she does... 
Originally Posted by Country Boy
Im with JRP on all accounts... My car is set up for street use. It has 18s, radials, stiff suspension, lowering springs, ALL ammenities and will NEVER see a cage. I dont give a rats *** about track times. The track is all about traction, suspension setup, weather, driver and car... waaay too many variables for me. People ask about HP, vary rarely track times, also, 90% of the people out there understand (or can relate) to HP.
Like it was said earlier, different strokes for different folks.
Like it was said earlier, different strokes for different folks.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Quiet Place in the Country, FL
Originally Posted by Lostpatrolman
Umm... WRONG! Your trap speed will indicate your hp if you know your race weight.
Why do we care about dyno numbers?
Why is the sky blue?
Why is the grass green?
Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk... ???
We may never know these answers, but for now, my best guess is for positive mental reinforcement of why we spent our money on things costing ridiculous amounts that we'll never get our money back on and that will eventually one day be sold for a small fraction of the cost or possibly even given away.
Why is the sky blue?
Why is the grass green?
Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk... ???
We may never know these answers, but for now, my best guess is for positive mental reinforcement of why we spent our money on things costing ridiculous amounts that we'll never get our money back on and that will eventually one day be sold for a small fraction of the cost or possibly even given away.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Quiet Place in the Country, FL
Originally Posted by ArcticZ28
Why do we care about dyno numbers?
Why is the sky blue?
Why is the grass green?
Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk... ???
We may never know these answers, but for now, my best guess is for positive mental reinforcement of why we spent our money on things costing ridiculous amounts that we'll never get our money back on and that will eventually one day be sold for a small fraction of the cost or possibly even given away.
Why is the sky blue?
Why is the grass green?
Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you're drunk... ???
We may never know these answers, but for now, my best guess is for positive mental reinforcement of why we spent our money on things costing ridiculous amounts that we'll never get our money back on and that will eventually one day be sold for a small fraction of the cost or possibly even given away.
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: North Palm Beach, FL.
Originally Posted by BLUEBALLS ZZ
lets face it. Dyno's are for tuning and give you an idea on how you car is running. the power band shift point etc. i see so many post on why is my dyno so low. and really high dyno with no good track results. case in point. i dynoed 403 at one place and 407 at another. with a nice power curve. i ran a 530 hp 422 and we were dead even. the guy can drive. about the same weight cars and type of car. transam. i seen a 370 hp car trap 121 weighting 100lbs lighter. i personally trap 123. with the race weight (with me in it) of 3600lbs. now you are going to say it's the different dyno's? nope. we all dynoed at the same place. so now what? just want to let people know to stop worrying about their dyno numbers and get it to the track and worry about the E.T./MPH numbers. when those are way off then you can approach the issue.
Thanks for the compliment that I can drive.
When I ran you I was on my stock rims and Nittos.
I don't know about you but I was spining some in 1st and 2nd.
Also weighed my car last weekend and it's right on 3600 without me in it.
As soon as I get the 90/90 set up and tuned I'll take it to Bradenton for timeslips.
That was a good run though every time I shifted I looked over and I could see you shinny head. LOL
It kinda felt like I was standing still at one point, kinda freaky.
i spun also but you dead hooked in second and i didn't. i spun hard. hell thats what you told me and thats what mark saw. and you need to weight that car again. no way in hell it weights that much. most people don't check and zero out the scale before weighting it. you have a 80lbs block but light weight brakes and k-memeber. i have a 80lbs roll bar. the 90/90 will make a big difference on your car. plus your best traps on motor is 123 in way better weather. adds up to me
Let's compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Dyno's are a very useful tool to get you close to maximizing your setup. I agree that Dyno queens are pointless as peak horsepower does nothing for you other than look pretty in a chart. However, there is a reason why if you drive through Mooresville, NC at any time of day you hear about 20 Dyno's roaring from the race teams there. It's a tool that helps get them as close as possible to the best track set up without the cost of actually going to the track. It doesn't guarantee that they will have the best track setup by any means, but gets them close enough to make track tuning a great deal easier. As someone mentioned before though, for a dyno to be effective, the operator has to be consistent (no tricks to get a peak) and also knowledgeable on how to read the graphs.
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,524
Likes: 1
From: The South
Originally Posted by ArcticZ28
......my best guess is for positive mental reinforcement of why we spent our money on things costing ridiculous amounts that we'll never get our money back on......
And for people who don't understand track times, don't run at the track, suck at driving, etc etc.
Originally Posted by BLUEBALLS ZZ
why do we worry so much about dyno numbers?
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by BBQLS1
Uh, mine (isn't that all that matters?). Sorry, but I don't see the dyno as a performance indicator, it's a tool. I see the track (drag or autocross or whatever), as showing what your car is capable of. Anyone with enough cash can buy as much HP as they want. I like figuring out what makes my car go down the track quicker. Not that I won't be impressed with a car putting down 600hp on the rollers, but if you can traslate that into a good et, that will impress me more. I guess the dyno is a measure of the engine, and the track is a measure of the car.
